Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 25: Cell Mechanics II
BP 25.6: Talk
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 11:00–11:15, H44
Using microfluidics for measuring microplastic particle-cell interactions — •Matteo A. Kumar1, Simon Wieland1,2, Anja F.R.M. Ramsperger1,2, Christian Laforsch1,2, and Holger Kress1 — 1Biological Physics, University of Bayreuth, Germany — 2Animal Ecology I and BayCEER, University of Bayreuth, Germany
The growing presence of microplastic particles (MPs) in the environment increases human exposure to these contaminants, which can accumulate in tissues and spread throughout the body. Various MP properties, such as shape, size, charge and surface morphology, influence their interactions with cells. We have recently shown that the zeta-potential of MPs significantly affects their adhesion to and internalization into cells*. However, the question, whether the zeta-potential directly or another underlying parameter influencing it (e.g. the number of functional surface groups) plays the decisive role, remains unsolved.
To address this, we use a microfluidic platform and combine it with a convolutional neural network to allow the measurement of hundreds of interactions in parallel. By allowing MPs with different surface functionalizations to sediment onto the cells, we determine their binding kinetics. We subsequently exert a well-defined flow force on the MPs to quantify their adhesion to the cells. Our work contributes to understanding which properties of MPs are determining particle-cell interaction and therefore identifying potential drivers for their biological impact.
*Wieland, S., Ramsperger, A.F.R.M., Gross, W. et al. Nat Commun 15, 922 (2024).
Keywords: Microfluidics; Microplastics; Particle-cell interaction